Marjory Kerr Baker

Marjory "Marnie" K. Baker, age 72, late of Orland Park, IL, passed away suddenly on March 14, 2024. She was born on April 1, 1951, in Tenafly, NJ. She moved with her family to Chatsworth, CA when she was in junior high and was a true "California Girl".

Marnie was a self-made woman. Her high drive, willingness to learn, and ability to commit herself fully to learning what she needed to do a given job the best way possible. She first started her career in marketing and sales promotion. Marnie worked for McDonald’s and was much of the energy behind the games and sweepstakes the company ran, notably McDonald’s Monopoly sweepstakes.

Her career took her to Chicago, and after settling into life there, she decided to take an acting class. It was there that she met her husband, Gerry Murphy. Their recent marriage was the celebration of a long and fruitful relationship. Marnie never did anything by halves and entered everything with enthusiasm, focus and amazing organization.

She produced and managed local theater productions, supporting Gerry onstage. She always had a deep love for animals, especially horses and cats, and once considered a career in veterinary medicine. When she moved to Orland Park with Gerry (and four cats she referred to as Monsters of the Id) she discovered what was to become her overriding passion - the Orland Park Grassland restoration project and the Orland Grassland Volunteers.

She discovered almost instantly that she was made to be a naturalist. She eventually became a site steward and worked to become an Illinois Master Naturalist. She was a true citizen scientist, birder and botanist and wrote countless haikus celebrating her beloved Grassland. She recruited and mentored volunteers both for the Grassland and the Master Naturalist program.

She wrote newsletters and press releases, coordinated, and attended community events, co-monitored frogs, and birds, and wrote field guides to the Grassland birds and plants. In short, she was kind, smart, generous, and compassionate and cared deeply about ecological restoration. Not only will her husband, family and ‘the prairie girls’ miss her, but we’ve lost a strong and positive voice for Nature.

Beloved wife of Gerry Murphy. Dear sister of Richard "Shag" Baker of Myrtle Beach, SC, Lucia Owen of Stoneham, ME, John Baker of Colorado Springs, CO. Caring aunt of Lucia Baker and Ryan Baker.

Marnie was a master Naturalist and loved being outdoors. She enjoyed birdwatching and volunteering with the Orland Grassland. There she helped restore the beautiful grassland area in Orland Park.

Visitation Thursday March 21, 2024, 9:00-10:30 AM at Vandenberg Funeral Home, 19604 Wolf Road, Mokena, IL to St. Mary Church, 19515 115th Avenue Mokena, IL. 60448 for Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM . Interment to follow in Good Shepherd Cemetery, Orland Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the St. Jude Children Research Hospital, www.stjude.org in memory of Marnie.